chapter fifteen:
❛ round two, princess? ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!
COMMENT AND VOTE

✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸

Arizona was dreading her life at the moment. She sat slumped in the passenger seat of Hawk's car, watching the world blur by through the window as they pulled into the hospital parking lot. Every nerve in her body was tense, and she could feel the weight of the impending confrontation with Miguel pressing down on her.

"Why are we here, Hawk?" Arizona asked, her voice heavy with exhaustion and frustration. She leaned her head against her hand, her arm propped on the door as if it was the only thing holding her up.

Hawk shifted the car into park and turned off the engine. He glanced over at her, his expression serious but laced with a hint of determination. "You and Miguel are gonna talk this out. You guys aren't breaking up. He just woke up from a coma and had emotions."

Arizona shot him a skeptical look, lifting her head slightly to meet his gaze. "You weren't there. He... He was really pissed and told me 'I'm not the Arizona I knew.'" She mocked Miguel's words, but the hurt in her voice was unmistakable.

Hawk sighed, running a hand through his hair. He shrugged as if to dismiss the gravity of her concerns. "I don't care. Come on," he said, reaching for the door handle to get out of the car.

Before he could move, Arizona's arm shot out, stopping him. "What if I lied?" she blurted out, her voice tinged with desperation.

Hawk furrowed his eyebrows, turning back to her with confusion. "About?"

Arizona hesitated, biting her lower lip as she considered her next words. "What if I told him I left Cobra Kai to be back with him. I just have to make sure he doesn't find out," she said, her eyes searching Hawk's face for some kind of reassurance.

Hawk's expression shifted to one of disbelief, a mix of concern and annoyance flashing in his eyes. "He's gonna find out eventually, Zona," he told her, his tone firm but not unkind.

Arizona shrugged, her shoulders slumping even further as she looked away from him. "I just need time to show him I haven't changed," she explained, her voice quiet, almost pleading.

Hawk studied her for a moment, his gaze softening. He could see how much this was tearing her apart, and despite his reservations, he decided not to press the issue. "Alright, let's just go see him," he said, nodding in agreement.

Arizona and Hawk stepped out of the car, the hospital looming ahead of them like a foreboding reminder of the situation they were about to face. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows that seemed to echo the weight on Arizona's shoulders. She swallowed hard, her nerves tightening with every step they took toward the entrance.

As they approached the hospital's sliding doors, Arizona felt the sterile chill of the place even before they stepped inside. The lobby was bustling with people—patients, nurses, visitors—all moving with purpose. The hum of fluorescent lights overhead only added to her growing anxiety.

Hawk glanced at her, offering a reassuring nod before leading the way to the security checkpoint. As they neared, Arizona could see the metal detectors and the security guards stationed by the entrance to the hospital's inner corridors. The line was short, but every second felt like an eternity to Arizona.

"Just stay calm," Hawk muttered under his breath, sensing her unease.

Arizona nodded, though her stomach was doing flips. The memories of her last visit here, the way Miguel had looked at her with confusion and anger, were still fresh in her mind. She rubbed her hands together, trying to shake the nerves.

When they reached the front of the line, a tall, broad-shouldered security guard stepped forward, his expression neutral but observant. "Please place any metal objects, phones, and personal belongings in the tray and step through the metal detector," he instructed, his voice firm but polite.

Hawk, always composed, quickly emptied his pockets, placing his phone, keys, and wallet in the tray before stepping through the metal detector without hesitation. The machine beeped once, a signal that he was clear. Hawk moved to the other side, waiting for Arizona.

Arizona took a deep breath and followed suit, her movements a little more hesitant. She dropped her phone, keys, and a small hair clip into the tray, then stepped toward the metal detector. As she passed through, she held her breath, half-expecting it to beep and delay her further. But the machine remained silent, and she let out a small sigh of relief.

The security guard nodded, signaling her to collect her belongings. Arizona quickly grabbed her phone and keys, stuffing them back into her pockets with shaky hands. She could feel the guard's eyes on her, and she gave him a forced, tight-lipped smile before hurrying to Hawk's side.

The guard nodded again, his gaze shifting away as they moved past him and into the hospital's main hallway.

"You okay?" Hawk asked, noticing her still-tense posture.

"Yeah, just... nervous," Arizona admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hawk placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as they made their way to the elevator. The ride up to the third floor was quiet, the only sound being the soft ding of the elevator doors opening and closing. Arizona kept her eyes on the digital display above the doors, watching the numbers climb higher. Her heart raced faster with each floor they ascended.

Finally, the elevator doors slid open, revealing the third-floor hallway. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and the distant murmur of conversations from the nurses' station. Arizona's chest tightened as they stepped out into the corridor, her gaze flicking to the signs directing them toward Miguel's room.

It didn't take long to find the door. But as they approached, Arizona's steps slowed, a wave of apprehension washing over her. The closer they got, the clearer the room number became, and with it, the reality of what lay ahead. She could feel Hawk's presence beside her, steady and supportive, but it did little to quell the storm inside her.

As they reached the door, Arizona instinctively put out a hand to stop Hawk from entering. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw a familiar figure inside the room. Sam was sitting by Miguel's bedside, her hand resting on his, a look of concern etched on her face.

"What are you doing?" Hawk asked, his voice low and puzzled as she blocked him from moving forward.

Arizona didn't answer immediately. Instead, she brought her finger to her lips, signaling for silence. "Shh, look," she whispered, nodding toward the scene inside. Sam was speaking softly to Miguel, and though they couldn't make out the words, the intimacy of the moment was clear.

"Let's eavesdrop first," Arizona suggested, a mix of curiosity and dread in her voice. She wasn't ready to face Miguel yet, not until she knew what Sam was saying, what they were talking about.

Hawk hesitated but eventually leaned in with her, both of them trying to catch the conversation happening on the other side of the door. Arizona's heart pounded in her chest, the fear of what she might hear almost paralyzing her, but she couldn't bring herself to turn away. Not yet.

Arizona watched intently as Sam reached up and gently touched the scar on her arm, a scar that Arizona knew all too well was her doing. The memory of that fight in the school, the adrenaline, the anger—it all came rushing back. But seeing Sam trace the mark she left behind made Arizona's stomach twist in a way she didn't expect. Before she could dwell on it too long, Miguel noticed as well.

"Is that from Arizona?" Miguel asked, his voice tinged with concern as he stared at the scar.

Sam hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Uh... Yeah. It's really not that bad," she tried to downplay it, showing the scar more openly. Arizona felt a pang of regret but quickly shoved it aside, hardening her expression. She glared at Sam, wondering why she was even bothering to minimize it.

"Yeah," Miguel muttered, his eyes fixed on the scar. "Kinda makes me look tough," Sam joked weakly, though the sadness in her smile was unmistakable. She watched as Miguel looked down, a sadness settling in his eyes that made Arizona's chest ache.

"You and Arizona will get back together, Miguel," Sam said softly, trying to comfort him. "She's just not herself."

Arizona furrowed her brows in confusion. After everything she'd done to Sam, why was she speaking so well of her? It didn't make any sense.

"I'm sorry about what she did, Sam," Miguel apologized, his voice filled with guilt.

Sam gave him a pointed look. "You didn't do anything. It's Cobra Kai, plus Tory who was egging her on to hurt me. But it is also partly Arizona's fault too," she explained, her tone even, though there was an edge of bitterness.

Miguel sighed heavily. "Tory and Arizona have had a rough life," he defended them, trying to find some explanation. Arizona's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She didn't expect Miguel to stand up for her like that.

"Tory's mom is sick, Arizona's dad is controlling—" Miguel began, but Sam cut him off with a sharpness that surprised Arizona.

"Everybody's got a sob story. Doesn't give you the right to be a bully," Sam snapped, her voice firm.

Arizona couldn't wrap her head around it. First, Sam was defending her, now she wasn't? Make up your mind, she thought bitterly, her emotions swirling.

Miguel rolled his eyes in frustration, but Sam sighed, seemingly giving up on the conversation. She reached into her bag and pulled out an envelope, handing it to Miguel. Arizona's eyes narrowed, her curiosity piqued. She glanced at Hawk, who had been silent the entire time, watching the scene unfold.

"I just wanted to give you this. It's just a card," Sam said, her voice softening as she handed it over.

Arizona leaned closer, trying to get a better look at the envelope. When she finally saw it, her heart sank. The envelope had an octopus on it. She recognized the symbol immediately, remembering the first date Miguel and Sam had at the arcade, where Miguel had won Sam an octopus stuffed animal. The sight of it made Arizona clench her jaw, jealousy and hurt welling up inside her.

Miguel smiled slightly as he looked at the card, and Arizona's heart broke a little more at the sight. She felt like an outsider, watching as Miguel and Sam shared a moment that she wasn't part of. Hawk must have noticed the shift in her expression because he suddenly moved forward, breaking the tension.

"El Serpentine!" Hawk exclaimed loudly, stepping into the doorway.

Sam turned around, startled by Hawk's sudden entrance, and Miguel looked over, his eyes widening as he saw them. Arizona peered out from behind Hawk, her gaze locking with Sam's. Sam's breath hitched at the sight of Arizona, and Arizona couldn't resist smirking evilly at her, masking her inner turmoil with bravado.

Hawk glared at Sam, his protective instincts kicking in. "You got some nerve coming here after what your boyfriend did to him," he snapped, his voice dripping with hostility.

Sam flickered her eyes between the two of them, holding her ground despite the confrontation. "I don't care what you two think. I just wanna help," Sam said, her glare meeting Hawk's.

Arizona scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Pretty sure you've done enough, princess," she retorted, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Sam's eyes narrowed as she focused on Arizona. "What happened to Arizona who was gentle and hated violence?" Sam asked, her voice softer now, almost pitying. She didn't wait for an answer, turning on her heel and walking toward the elevators.

Arizona stood frozen in place, Sam's words echoing in her mind. What happened to the Arizona who was gentle and hated violence? It was the second time someone had said something like that to her, and it was starting to cut deeper than she wanted to admit. Before she could process it, Hawk nudged her gently, snapping her out of her daze.

"Don't listen to her," Hawk said firmly, giving her a reassuring look before guiding her into Miguel's room.

The tension in the room was palpable as Arizona and Hawk entered. Miguel looked up, his expression a mix of confusion and wariness. Arizona's heart raced as she tried to muster the courage to speak.

"Okay, you need to make up," Hawk declared, breaking the silence. "You guys are most definitely not breaking up." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Arizona's mind raced, trying to figure out what to say. She knew she had to do something to fix this, to get Miguel back on her side. She took a deep breath and looked at him, her eyes pleading.

"Miguel... I left Cobra Kai," she lied, the words slipping out before she could second-guess them.

Miguel's eyes widened in surprise, a glimmer of hope flickering in them. "You did?"

Arizona nodded, forcing herself to keep the lie going. "Yeah... I left. I want to be with you, Miguel. I don't want to be that person anymore."

Miguel studied her for a moment, his expression softening slightly. "Will you leave Sam alone?" he asked, his voice tentative, almost pleading.

Arizona hesitated, her mind racing. She knew what he wanted to hear, but could she really make that promise? Could she let go of the anger, the jealousy? Finally, she nodded. "Yes," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Miguel smiled, relief washing over his features. "Okay... we can try again."

Arizona's heart skipped a beat, a mix of guilt and triumph surging through her. She forced a smile, but deep down, she knew the lie was going to come back to haunt her. But for now, all that mattered was that Miguel was willing to give them another chance.

Miguel's smile grew, the tension in the room slowly dissipating. For a moment, it felt like everything might just be okay again. Arizona's heart fluttered, the guilt gnawing at her, but she shoved it down, focusing on the relief in Miguel's eyes.

Before the silence could grow too heavy, Hawk clapped his hands together, breaking the moment with his usual bravado. "Good! I can't let my favorite couple break up," he declared, a grin spreading across his face.

He walked over to Miguel, giving him a light punch on the shoulder. "Seriously, you guys are like the Cobra Kai power couple. I knew you'd work it out," he added, his tone teasing, but there was an underlying sincerity in his words.

Arizona forced a laugh, trying to match Hawk's energy. "Yeah, Hawk's got a reputation to uphold. Can't have us ruining that," she joked, though her heart wasn't entirely in it. She glanced at Miguel, her stomach twisting with a mix of relief and anxiety.

Miguel chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, well, we've still got a lot to figure out," he said, his eyes flickering between Arizona and Hawk. "But... thanks, Hawk. For pushing us to talk."

Hawk shrugged, as if it was no big deal. "Hey, what are friends for? Just keep the drama to a minimum next time, okay? I'm not a therapist." He smirked, though there was warmth in his teasing.

Arizona smiled, though her mind was still spinning. Hawk's words echoed in her head, but all she could focus on was the lie she'd just told. She hoped, for now, it was enough to keep things together, to keep Miguel by her side.

But deep down, she knew this was just the beginning of a much bigger challenge.

ASH SPEAKS!

splitting episode three into two parts because i have an idea🤭 you guys might be shocked (promise it wont last long maybe just for a few chapters bc robby and miguel gotta swoop back in) thats all im sayingggg